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Eligibility

In order to maintain Diplomate status, Diplomates certifying in 2015 and beyond must submit a packet every five (5) years verifying maintenance of their credentials (MOC).

Diplomate must be in good standing.

Diplomate must submit recertification documents every 5th year on the 5th and 10th year in each decade.

Upon successful recertification, certification is extended for 5 years beyond the previous certification date.

For example, if a candidate originally becomes certified in 2015, they must recertify by 2020. If the packet is approved, the next recertification deadline will be 2025.

Diplomates gaining initial certification within 2 years of a MOC year will not be required to submit a MOC packet until the following MOC period.

Diplomate must attain 100 maintenance of certification credits and submit a maintenance of certification application with appropriate documentation by October 1 prior to the year in which recertification is sought.

Diplomates gaining initial certification within 3 years of a MOC year need to obtain 60 MOC credits and submit a maintenance of certification application with appropriate documentation by October 1 prior to the year in which recertification is sought.

Diplomates gaining initial certification within 4 year of a MOC year need to obtain 80 MOC credits and submit a maintenance of certification application with appropriate documentation by October 1 prior to the year in which recertification is sought.

Diplomates who fail to recertify within 1 year of a MOC deadline will automatically lose their Active Diplomate status and their Diplomate status will be considered lapsed.

The lapsed Diplomate must petition to Training and Credentialing Committee for approval to continue to attempt recertification.

20 additional points must be accumulated for each year the Diplomate is lapsed. For example, a Diplomate who does not submit an acceptable MOC packet in 2020 would be required to earn 120 points and submit the packet in 2021 to maintain certification.

After 5 consecutive years of lapsed Diplomate status, the lapsed Diplomate must re-enter the examination process as a candidate by notifying the ACT office of intent to sit for the examination, paying the appropriate fees, and successfully passing the examination before regaining Active Diplomate status.

Steps to Recertification

Diplomate must accumulate 100 maintenance of certification credits (using a combination of the options listed below) and submit an application with appropriate documentation in the format requested.

The examination may be taken within 2 years prior to the MOC deadline.

Examination Items [maximum 100 credits]

Prior to submitting any items for consideration by the Examination Committee, Diplomate must take the online training module on examination item preparation available on the ACT website (link providedhere).

All exam items must be submitted in the format requested using available templates.

1 credit will be awarded for each multiple choice item written and accepted by the Examination Committee.

1 credit will be awarded for each image item written and accepted by the Examination Committee.

3 credits will be awarded for each essay item written and accepted by the Examination Committee.

Continuing Education Credits in Theriogenology [maximum 50 credits]

Attendance at theriogenology lectures at veterinary continuing education meetings earns 1 credits per instructional hour attended. Eligible CE hours include presentations at national or international scientific meetings and/or meetings or webinars approved for CE credit by a regulatory licensing board with jurisdiction in that area.

Theriogenology presentations[maximum 50 credits]

Lecturing to veterinarians or presenting wet labs at CE meetings, lecturing to veterinary students, or graduate students earns 3 credits per hour of lecture (1 credit for a 10-15 minute presentation). Lectures/presentations may take many forms but credit is only awarded once for the same material regardless of how many times it is presented.

Lectures to technicians, undergraduate or technician students earns 1 credit per hour of lecture.

Peer reviewed publications [maximum 50 credits]

Diplomate will receive 10 credits per publication in which the Diplomate is the first author.

Diplomate will receive 5 credits per publication in which the Diplomate is the mentoring author.

Diplomate will receive 1 credits per publication in which the Diplomate is a contributing author in any other position than the first or mentoring author.

Publication must conform to specifications listed in section E.4.c. in the ACT General Information Guide.

Diplomates serving on graduate committees for students with a theriogenology-related thesis will receive 4 credits for the final year of a student’s defense.

Diplomates serving as mentors for candidates preparing through the Alternate Route to take the ACT board examination will receive 1 credit for each month spent advising candidates registered in an ACT-approved study program. Direct supervision of candidates receives 2 credits per month. A maximum of 24 credits per year may be accumulated for each individual mentee.

Manuscript review [maximum 10 credits]

Diplomates serving as peer reviewers for any of the journals on the Approved Journals list (link to list here) will receive 2 credits for each manuscript reviewed.

Section editors at CE conferences for lectures related to theriogenology (link here, same as for approved CE conferences above) will receive 5 credits per meeting.

Diplomates will receive 1 credit for each theriogenology case recorded using the appropriate case submission form. A “case” is defined as following an individual complaint or presentation in an individual animal or herd from initial presentation until resolution. One breeding examination, for example, does not constitute a “case.”

Consultation with national or international veterinary organizations in theriogenology or frequent contributor to therio listserves earns 1 point per year.

Once a Diplomate has accumulated at least 100 credits to be scored, individual should submit maintenance of certification package. Submission format guidelines must be followed.

Mission Statement

The mission of the ACT is to promote animal well-being, reproductive health, responsible breeding and genetic practices, and efficient management of breeding-age animals in agriculture, veterinary practice, zoos, preserves, and ecosystems. In particular, the ACT envisions development of focus areas in theriogenology to incorporate the following in theriogenology/reproductive medicine:

1. Population control for domestic and non-domestic animals including feral animals, free-ranging and captive wildlife.